Better than the AirTag? – MBReviews
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The Atuvos Bluetooth tracker was developed as a substitute for Apple’s AirTag and, whereas it doesn’t really clear up all of the privateness elements (that’s Apple’s job), the tag does have just a few fascinating options that will make it extra engaging.
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The Atuvos Bluetooth tracker does make use of the Find My app which has undergone some modifications during the last yr to handle the privateness points (particularly the grave stalking side which remains to be isn’t fully solved). So, all the suite of options is out there right here as nicely, together with the chirping for detection, the just about infinite vary (relying on the variety of Apple units within the neighborhood) and the notification that you could be be tracked by a malicious third get together (if somebody implanted a tag on you).
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There’s additionally the QR code that may be scanned to point out particular information, akin to telephone quantity, however right here is the place we see one of many new parts that’s lacking on the AirTags and different Bluetooth trackers. And that’s the flexibility to show off the Atuvos Bluetooth tracker.
Indeed, there’s a small button that may flip off the system, however, in the intervening time the QR code is scanned, the system will activate once more. Furthermore, the battery is detachable, which is great news and the marketed vary is 400 toes, so, let’s put the Atuvos Bluetooth tracker to the check and see if it’s a greater system than the Apple AirTag.
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Design and Build Quality
The Atuvos Bluetooth tracker has a small plastic case and sure, it’s not fairly as compact because the Apple AirTag, however does it actually matter? At 1.37 x 1.37 x 0.27 inches (3.5 x 3.5 x 0.7 cm), it’s in all probability a bit thick, however you should not have any challenge carrying round with you. And there’s a gap to permit you to add the tracker to the important thing chain, so there really aren’t any complaints about portability.
The button.
Also, the scale of the AirTag is a comfort and an inconvenience on the similar time. First, you should get an adjunct so as to add it to a keychain and secondly, it’s extra prone to discover that somebody has put a thicker rectangular tracker inside your belongings than a coin-sized and formed metallic system. So yeah, the purpose of those tags are to be discovered after they’re misplaced. I do know that a few of you could frown upon using plastic, however the concept is for the tag to be mud and water-proof.
The Atuvos Bluetooth tracker case does have a gap inside the canal that surrounds the body of the tag, so is it really a rugged system? The Bluetooth tracker is IP67-rated, so, identical to the AirTag, you’ll be able to submerge the it below water down to three.3 toes for half-hour with out experiencing any injury. Also, the system needs to be sealed in opposition to mud ingress, so what’s with the opening within the case?
Is the Atuvos Bluetooth tracker rugged?
I’m pretty positive that it’s there for the speaker (which might get pretty loud, as much as about 90dB). The manner the case is formed ought to permit you to detach the 2 sections to disclose (and alter) the battery, so I made a decision to test simply how straightforward it’s to take action. It’s not straightforward in any respect, as a result of I had to make use of a prying device to pop the higher a part of the case open.
The producer says that it’s a measure to maintain youngsters from doubtlessly ingesting the battery, however I’m pretty positive it’s safety in opposition to mud and water. And sure, you need to have the ability to see a silicone seal glued into place which surrounds the battery when the highest cowl is re-attached.
Let’s speak in regards to the button
Next to the Atuvos brand, there’s a small round button which, when quick pressed, it can energy on the Bluetooth tracker (the small speaker will set free two chirps), however you do have the choice to show off the tag as nicely. Just lengthy press the button for about 3 seconds (it can do an extended beep).
Add the Atuvos Bluetooth tracker to a keychain.
Lastly, it’s additionally doable to reset the Atuvos Bluetooth tracker by holding the button for 10 seconds – after 7 seconds, the speaker will set free two lengthy beeps after which two quick beeps to verify that the system has been certainly reset.
What’s contained in the Atuvos Bluetooth tracker?
As I stated within the Design part, I used a prying device to detach the highest cowl and it revealed a sealed CR2032 battery that ought to final for a few yr. But, whereas doing so, I seen that I may additionally pop off the bottom-placed cowl as nicely.
This manner, I may see the PCB, however nothing actually stood out to me, aside from the WW03012229008689 IC. I additionally noticed that there have been three small screws which I eliminated and it made doable to detach the PCB completely, revealing the bottom-placed speaker.
Atuvos Bluetooth tracker teardown. Working with Find My app
The Find My app needs to be already put in in your iPhone, so simply open it and faucet on the Plus icon on the correct aspect of the Devices part. Then, from the listing, select Add Other Item (Add AirTag just isn’t going to work) after which quick click on the button on the Atuvos Bluetooth tracker.
After the speaker chirps twice, the Atuvos Tag ought to seem as out there within the app. Name it, choose an Emoji (?) after which the tag needs to be linked to the Apple ID. That’s about it for organising, however the app affords just a few extra choices. You get to see the situation of the tag on the map (with the Emoji), you’ll be able to Play the Sound to search out the tracker and you’ll try the Directions to easy methods to attain the tag. Slide as much as open much more choices, from which there’s the Notifications which is able to let you realize that you just left the tag behind (helpful to not lose your keys, for instance) and you too can allow the Lost Mode.
pairing course of.
Tap on it to personalize the conduct of this mode. You can obtain a notification when the Atuvos Bluetooth tracker has been discovered and also you don’t have to fret about another person linking the tag to a different Apple ID (the reset doesn’t appear to erase all the information). There is extra as a result of you too can go away the person who finds your belongings a message containing a telephone quantity or an e mail deal with – this data may be accessed by scanning the QR code.
The Atuvos Bluetooth in motion
First, let’s speak about vary. Atuvos says that the utmost vary is 400 toes (or 120 meters) and that is the space that the Bluetooth tracker will connect with a single iPhone. If there are extra within the neighborhood, the vary is prolonged for the reason that system will connect with the closest one – the Apple units will basically behave as entry factors, whereas the Atuvos Bluetooth tracker is a shopper system.
The app GUI.
But is the 400 toes vary declare really true? Yes, it may well really go a bit extra so long as it’s in open house. Add bushes, buildings and different sort of interference and the vary goes to be barely shorter. In my case, a big concrete constructing reduce the vary to about 250 toes, however it was an industrial development (numerous metal) – a residential constructing shall be extra forgiving. I’ve talked about that the chirping of the Atuvos Bluetooth tracker goes as much as about 90dB, however that’s provided that you keep very near the system, which isn’t actually the case while you lose it.
Instead, it’s going to be just a few toes away from you and that’s in finest case situation. So, is the tracker loud sufficient? It relies upon. If it’s close to a extremely trafficked space, you’ll have to preserve very shut consideration to the precise beeps, in any other case, it’s going to be very troublesome to listen to the speaker. A function that’s lacking from the Atuvos Bluetooth tracker, however it’s current on the AirTag is the UWB (Ultra Wideband). What this expertise does is to extend the precision of the monitoring, permitting you to pinpoint the situation of the thing with much more accuracy than when utilizing solely Bluetooth.
But do remember that UWB works over a brief distance. So, I do admit that I’d have preferred to see this function constructed into the Atuvos tracker as nicely, however the system will work high quality with out it. Now, let’s speak in regards to the security measures.
Setting up the Lost Mode.
The pretty distinctive attribute of the Atuvos Bluetooth tracker is its potential to be turned off. This implies that in case you do discover a tag monitoring you, it’s doable to disable it with out taking the battery off (some trackers don’t even supply this selection).
Also, I did like that in case somebody finds the tracker when it’s turned off and decides to scan the QR code, however doesn’t trouble calling or emailing you, the Atuvos Bluetooth tracker will activate robotically and can ship a beacon with the situation data to you.
The Conclusion
So, is the Atuvos Bluetooth tracker a great different to the AirTag? The reply is sure, it supply a lot of the options of the Apple tag and some extra. It does work with the Find My app, it has a reasonably loud beep, there’s the chance to alter the battery and most significantly, there’s the chance to show off the system. Furthermore, the case is water-proof and also you don’t want any accent so as to add it to the keychain. Yes, there isn’t any UWB, however the Bluetooth sign reaches fairly far and if there are sufficient Apple units within the space, the vary will get just about limitless.
Atuvos Bluetooth Tracker –
Pros Replaceable battery Can beam its location from a distance Can be turned off and reset IP67-rated Shows e mail deal with and/or telephone quantity when the QR code is scanned Cons No assist for UWB The speaker may have been a bit louder
Mark is a graduate in Computer Science, having gathered worthwhile expertise over time working in IT as a programmer. Mark can be the principle tech author for MBReviews.com, overlaying not solely his ardour, the networking units, but in addition different cool digital devices that you could be discover helpful on your on daily basis life.
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